Actually, I Was The Real One
Chapter 17
Does he really look like that?
Keira felt her face with one hand. She was worried that the women who left after talking about the weather, were actually distracted by her attitude.
Arthur: "Not so long ago, I thought my woman was a very scary woman, but now I know it's not like that at all."
Arthur looked at the confused woman's face. He thought he was a person with a slight expression, but looking closer, he was wrong. He was not a mind reader, but somehow he could understand what he was thinking.
He gave advice to the sullen girl.
Arthur :“Don't worry. First impressions are not everything. The next important thing is how well the conversation flows.”
Keira: “Oh, so?”
Arthur: “Ya, so it's good to find the similarities you have. It would be easier to continue such a conversation. Why don't you go to a club or something? People with similar interests come together to form a.” group
Keira: “My interests..”
Keyra's worried. What she is interested in so far has received love and recognition from her father.
"But I've decided not to do that."
Keira: “Fight monsters... and protect the empire?”
“…”
Ah, but it really doesn't matter now.
Keyra tilted her head.
Defending the kingdom would be handed over to His Majesty and his fake daughter, so he would not have to worry about her from now on.
Meanwhile, Arthur feels like he's met Tarzan.
Fight monsters and protect the empire?
If he said that to his comrades, he would have the same effect as talking about soldiers and gladiators.
He said urgently, “I think it's inappropriate. What about other interests?”
Keira: "Yes, come to think of it, I don't think other women would be interested in that."
Arthur was happy to hear that. He breathed a sigh of relief.
Arthur: “What about drama or opera? Artwork?"
“I studied art and music history, but in my opinion it is not very interesting.”
“No, no, not just the things you read in books. Aren't you watching the drama?”
“Yah... It was more fun than reading it in a book, but I just enjoyed a few shows...”.
"Didn't you have a hobby that you enjoy in your spare time?"
Keyra thought hard. He doesn't think he has any hobbies or interests.
If he didn't have it, he could make it from now on.
Keira: “I don't really enjoy games and shows, but I can give it a try. It can help make the conversation flow.”.
"Wait, Madam." Arthur cut. "It's not a hobby, is it?"
Keyra: "Huh?"
Arthur: “You shouldn't force yourself, miss. How can it be a hobby if you do not enjoy it but still do it to please others? Find something you really enjoy.”
“…”
Hearing his words, Keira stopped.
Find something that I will enjoy…
It was just a hobby when he could really enjoy it.
If he forced himself to do something he didn't like just to be close to someone else, what was the difference with when he did everything to please his father?
Keyra: “Thank you.”
Arthur : “Sorry?”
'If it wasn't for you, I'd live like I used to.'
Keira: " Anyway, I'll consider your advice."
Meet women his age and talk about similar interests.
Keira: “I think I've been holding you for too long. See you next time."
Arthur turned to leave, but suddenly looked back.
The woman moved slowly, as if in pain.
...----------------...
That night, Rose brought three books to Keira's room.
Keira, who was getting ready for bed, looked at him curiously.
"Did I ask you to do something?"
"This morning, you told me to bring you a novel."
Rose placed the three books on the bedside table.
“These are three books that describe the daily life of a noble woman. I picked the three that I like the most, and maybe you will also enjoy it.”
Keira took the book on top of the pile.
'Lady Stella's 'Fun Summer Vacation'
He had no idea what the novel was about, but since 'Lady' was included in the title, he thought it would have the information he was looking for.
“Please bring me a glass of water. I'll read it before I go to sleep."
"Oh, it's not a good idea to start reading it before bed."
"Why?"
"You'll be up all night wondering what happened next."
“…?”
No matter how interesting a book is, it is still a book. How interesting is this book?
Of course, he did not follow Rose's advice because he did not understand.
「 It was purely thanks to my aunt who married a rich man so that I, the daughter of an official, could go to the capital for summer vacation. In my 18th summer, I took the train to the city.」
At first it wasn't very interesting because it was just about the protagonist adjusting to life in his aunt's house.
Sitting on a warm and soft bed and reading a boring book, it was expected that he would fall asleep.
'All right then.'
How can anyone stay up all night because he wants to know about what will happen next?
He flipped through the pages to see how many pages were left, and saw a sentence that he could not ignore.' Count's hand slipped the end of my dress. We are in a park where anyone can come and go–’
Keira gasped and accidentally threw the book in surprise.
“What–What is this–!”
His face feels very warm.
That scene was in the park, right?
Growing up under a strict family, she would never find a novel with adult content.
He wanted to run to Rose immediately and ask about what kind of book he recommended, but stopped himself.
She wonders how Stella, the innocent girl who came to town to spend her summer vacation, is taking a walk in the park.
He took back that the novel was boring. Suddenly, he was very, very curious about what was going to happen.
'No. No matter how it is, I can't read it.
He knew he shouldn't have read it. He really wanted to read it.
He had not even read it properly and had only read it page by page, but it made him even more curious.
What am I supposed to do?
Even when he hesitated to read it, his hand had already grabbed the book on the blanket. The tip of his finger trembled.
He shouldn't have achieved such things .. but he still wants to.
He felt like he was possessed by the temptations of the devil.
“Hm, hm.”
In the end, Keira coughed and picked up the book she had thrown away.